Crutch



Dec. 6, 1927.

1,652,110 w. H. FULLINGTON CRUTCH Original Filed Oct. 22, 1925 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6,- 1927.

Dominion.

ILLIAM ii. rurnine'ron. or CLEVELAND, oni nssienon roxA'rHEnINE'J'. f RIDDELL, or CLEVELAND, 01110.;

Applicationfiled October 22, 1925, serial No. 64,155. Renewed June 11,1927.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in surgical appliances and more especially in crutches.

One object isto provide a crutch adjustable to accommodate persons-of varying stature. I

Another object in a crutch is to provide I improved cushioning and shock absorbing means;

; Another object is to provide a crutch with means for adjusting the height of the arm saddle for accommodating persons of vary ingheight. we Y Another objectis to provide a hand grip adjustable in relation'to the arm saddle to accommodate persons of-varying'arm lengths.

Another object is to provide shock ab sorbing means for resiliently mounting an arm saddle.

Anotherobject is toprovide a crutch with aninterchangeable arm saddle;

. Another object is to provide an improved padded arm saddle for comfort. v Another object is to provide. .an interchangeable sanitary impadded arm saddle for regular usage over long periods. i Another object is to'provide an improved crutch base tip. v

,Another object ina base tip is to provide improved means for detachably mounting the cushion. A Another object is to provide animproved A detachable base tlp cushion with a, pointed member adj table toprotrude through vfor engagement with the ground when slippery or covered with ice.

Another object in 'a detachable crutch cushion is to provide an adjustable pointed member having an elongated shank adapted to be applied as .alever for loosening'or tightening the crutch adjusting means. In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the crutch equipped with an 1 improved padded arm saddle and extension means; Figure 2 is an enlarged with parts broken away;

Figure '3 is an 7 enlarged section taken on line '3-3 of Figure 1, showing the hand l igure 4 is an enlargedsectional detail of the base tip;

. Figure 5 is a V Figure dis a sectional view detail view of the cushion fragmentary sectional view showing the base'tip modified for applica' t1on to a standard length crutch;

Figure 7 is another modified'form of base tip application to an ordinary split rod crutch; and

"improved crutch shown in Figure 1, comprisng a maintube orshart 2 of steel or other suitable material which rorms the main support of the crutch. The saddle generally indicated by the numeral 3 is. resiliently mounted in thettop of the tube 2by a depending extension 4 resting on resil ent member 5 supported by plug 6 pinned to the tube 2 as at '7. 'The' sliding m-ovement of extension 1 is limited bya screw 8 threaded into the. tube 2, said screw engaging the ends of slots 9 inlthe annular wall of extension i v 1 which is hollow tolighten the structure.

Extension 4 depends centrally from a yoke 10, the .arms 11 of which extend oppositely and upwardly, terminating in somewhat reduced flattened-portions 12. *Flattened portions 12 are provided with bolt holes 1-3 to receive bolt 14. 'Arm saddle 15 is approximately "round in cross section and is preferably formed of a leather c asing'16 stitched or otherwise joined on the underside and reenforced and ,stufied with raw hide or other suitable material, near the ends'17 of saddle 15 the stufling is reduced and the casing down and'under yoke endportions 12 and clamped by bolts 14 extending thruifrom the top lalid tightened by nuts on underside; Some people Whohave worn crutches and reenforcing is flattened, bent care-for the' padded armsaddle, andin I that'case the unpadded wooden saddle 20 as shown in Figure 8 may be substituted and I this form is supported on the annular shoulder 22 and stud 23 of a post 21. Saddle 20 is partly drilled on under side to receive stud 23 which is secured by pin 24. Post 21- is adaptedto slidingly fit into the top of tube 2 and rest on resilient member 5. Movement V of post 21 is limited by the screw .8 engaging' the ends of slot 25, preventing'displacement. I V

An adjustable hand gripi-s providedcomwith arms 27extending oppositely and then prising a split sleeve 26 integrally formed 1 termcdiately supported on bolt 28 between arm ends 27 isa handgri 29, and this hand grip is adjustable 1n re ation to the arrn saddleaccommodating thearm reach of the crutch user, by slidin sleeve 2611p or down 0n tube 2 and clamping same thereon by drawing up nut 30 on bolt 28, springing arms 27 together and compressing sleeve 26 on tube 2 and also binding the arm ends against grip ,29 preventing turning of the latter. 1

An adjustable extension 31 provides height 'adjustment or; saddle and comprises a tube 31 slidingly fitting into lower end ofinain tube 2 which is externally threaded asat 32 at its lower endltoreceive knurled nut 33 internallyItaper thrcaded. When nut 33 is turned npby hand or-with a spanner wrench engaging in hole 8d, the tapered thread compresses tuboportionBQ into frie tional locking engagement with extension tube 31. To permit sul'ilcient compression of tubeiend 32one or niore slots are cut longitudinally back from the end a distance somewhatgreater than the thread.

A crutch base:tip indicated generally at 35 is mounted on the end of extension 31. Asshown in Figurefl basetip 35 is recessed as at37 forming a socket to receivethelower end olextension tube 31 .which is fitted internally with a ring 38pinned to tube 31 as at 3.). Base tip 35 drilled centrally as at: 36 and extendinginto the uppenportion ot the hole is atube -10 of sinall diaineterpinned as at 4.1 to the base 235. Tube lemmas; thrnring; and is provided witha collar lflpinned at 43 to the tube 40, said collar 42lretainsithe lower BllflOf tube 31 in socket 37. The annnlarflangzfe otsoeket l'T covers pin 39 preventing,dis 'ilaceinent upon working loose. Tube 40 extends upwardly and centrally thrn extension tube 31,;ter1ninating with a threaded end to draw or pus ah tapered nut extending partly into the upper split end of extension tube 31. Ilpon rotation of 'base tip carrying tube -10, tapered nut d5 is drawninto the split tube end 46 empandinpyand frictionally locking the latter againsttube Thisnieans for locking extension 31 may be employed to pether with the locking n'ieans provided at owor end oftuhe 2, or may be omitted when employing the latter lllfllllls lll which case thellower end of extension tube 31 is secured directly to socket 37. l

:Base tip 35 provided with a shock absorbing cushion 4'7 reinojvablysecured 1n alowersocket 48 having an internal annular shoulder 49 for supporting the base on said cushion which projects below socket 48 Ior supporting cushioningengagement with the ground. Socket 48 is provided at its lower internal edge with ian inwardly extex'utling annular head 50 for gripping and slightly compressing rubber cushion 47, preventing displacement lor .fallingzentn The rubber en. lioimnay be easily inserted or removed from socket 48 with the hand.

pointed screw 51 screwed centrally into the top of cushion 47 and locked with lock out The shanlrpirif screw 51 is plairnand at the end may be slotted asat 53 ior turning. ",Durinp inclement weather when the wound slippery or covered with ice, a pmiiire grip with the ground"Inaylbe obtained by screwing down screw *51qruntil the point project toni ot cushion ell as shown in Figures; The shank oil-extends rupwardly .into the somewhat larger hole 36 inbase35. "Shank inp; based-35, by .lllf'iCl't'lll g shank in base 35. p

$01110 people prefer a crutch o'fstandard lengthaiithoiit the l'eature (ll saddleheight removing cushion 47 and '52 into transverse iholebl'ifi glitly beyond thejhotis adapted to be used as a lever fonturnadjustment to theprountl and fonthispur ure (3. lnthispfornrthebaseis turneddown to a shoulder 56 "foifllmtting engagement with the end of tubebl theturned down por tion 5? fitting into tube 54. with a tight. lit and pinned at58.

Another the base tip is shown in Figure 7 in which a deep socket ($1 formed in the upper. portion of base 60 is adaptedtoreceivezthe end 652 of a standard wooden crutch. Apin'63 secures the crutch end secnrelyto "the "base.

I claim:-

l. A crutch shaft comprising upperand lower telcscepic tubes, theu pperentl ofthe lower tube being nuiansible into Contact with the inside oi. the upper-tube, a rotar socket block on the lower end of thedower tube said socket block beinqprovidd .wit-h aulrcad piece a screw rod lie 2d athitslower end to said sochetblock and extending .upwardly the from intothe inner *tube, and meansactuated'by said screw rod 'to expend the upper end of the innentube.

i A crutcl'l sliatftus stated in claim "1,the

lower end oi the inner tube being prouided ture.

\VILLIA'B'I H. FUIJ'IJINGTGN.

modified form of; application of l 

